Gyroscopic steering mechanism



Jne16,1931. WDIETER i 1,810,646

GYROSCOPIC STEERING MECHANI SM Original Filed April 16, 1925 @www d ML?,

Patented June 16, 1931 unirsi) STATES `'PA*PEN-f1" ol-"ri-cia.

WILLIAM DIETER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO :Iii` BLISS (.OlVVIIIEANY,V 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE G-YROSGOPIC STEERING MECI-IANISM Original application filed April 16, 1926, Serial No. 102,429. 'Divided andths 1928. Serial No. $251,136. v

used for steering automobile torpedoes. InA

such mechanisms the gyroscope is commonly spun up by the action of compressed air upon a turbine. Within recent years provision-has also been made for continuing the spin of the gyroscope to keep it at suitably high speed, by applying jets of air impinging upon the serrated periphery of the flywheel.

The spinning-up by means of high-pressure may be performed as in the Bliss-Leavitt torpedo, the mechanism being shown in my Patent No. 1,153,678, dated September 14, 1915, and the patent of F. M. Leavitt, No. 1,185,210, dated May 30, 1916. The present invention has reference to the swivel construction by which for angle-tire the gyro casing may be turned to the desired angle.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the general construction and arrangement of the gyro cup or casing and the depth engine, a portion of the torpedo shell beneath being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, A is the usual gyro cup or casing, mounted as usual upon the base B which is fastened within the torpedo shell C; on the top plate or head D of the gyrofcasing are mounted in the usual manner the motors for vertical and horizontal steering, one of these steering engines being shown at E. Within the casing A is the gyroscope (commonly called gyro) comprising the usual outer gimbal ring F, inner gimbal ring Gr, and fly-wheel H. The outer gimbal ring is hung within theY casing on a vertical aXis on bearings a and b, and the inner head or spider d, as usual. These four bearring is hung within the outer one in bearings application filed' February 1,

ings are fbest made .as .ball bearings, as is customary.

For the initial Vvspinning up lof theV lgyroscope, high-pressure ,air;.,taken from the compressed air flask Ais introduced by aconduit e shown as formed in the head .1), and which communicates through a swivel connection f with an outside pipe or air duct `g leading (see-F ig. .to the nozzle of the spinningup turbine J. This spinnin g-up construction is `that, which is well-known in the Bliss- Leavitt torpedo, and is 'shown in my Patent [No. 1,153,67 8, dated September 14, 1915 and the patent of F. M. Leavitt, No. 1,185,210, dated May 36, 1916. The `present invention has no reference to this specific initial spinning means. The construction is vsuch that for an angle-fire the gyro casing A may be turned yby ythe usual :means (which Ais well known) to the desired angle (the head D reniainingk stationary) and by. the turning of the swivel f proper communication is maintained for the high pressure air from the inlet conduit e to the outlet pipe g,`as is well 7 understood. Y f

Y The present inventi'on introduces an improved'construction ofthe swivel connection f. Diiiiculty has been experienced in maintaining proper packings for. the high pres- S0 .sure air (i-ts pressure approximating v3000 ,pounds per square inch) at this swivel joint. The construction provided by ymy present invention :avoids the lleakages heretofore encountered. Into the :stationary head D. is 'e5 screwed .a plug 10.sealed ;by packinggaskets at'11,112, andv into this plug 1() is screwed a rtubular swivel lspindle 13 packed 4by a gasket' 14k. lA :rotaryshell 15 of theL swivelV fturns upon the swivel 'spindle 13, the head of the latter `coming within a 'chamber 16 formed in 'thisturning member. n The `top of this chamber is closed by an internal disk 17 Abacked by an outerstrengthening disk 18, and this held in place by a screw ring 19 which is packed by a gasket 20. To withstand the high pressure, these packing gaskets 11, 12, 14 and 2O (and also advantageously the disk 17 should be of tinned copper, according to my Patent No. 1,478,108, dated December 18, 1923. By

means of the construction just described, the high pressure swivel joint can be opened by simply unscrewing the ring or plug' 19 carrying with it the disk 18 and permitting the disk 17 to be taken out, thereby giving access to the chamber 16. To disconnect the swivel, the tubular spindle 13 may be unscrewed and lifted out. VVit-h the packing means described, trie only possible leakage `Could be from thevchamber 16 under the head of the swivel spindle 13 and around the neck of the latter. Any tendency to leakage here is practically overcome by the preponderant upward pressure of the compressed air on the swivel shell 15 which presents on the underside of the plug parts 19, 18, 1?, a larger area than that of the annular projection of the head ot 13, so that the upward pressure draws the casing 15 so tightly under the head that leakage is practically eliminated. Even if a sligh leakage did occur,A however, the waste would be negligible and the leakage could not affect the gyroscope, which is entirely housed within and pretectedby its casing A.

The present invention has no reference to the continued rotating drive of the ily-wheel by low-pressure air (at the usual working pressure of say L to 500 pounds per square inch), for which purpose such air is led through a duct (shown at the right in Fig. 2) passing through the head D to the upper hearing a and thence (by ducts not shown) toiinpinge against the fly-wheel to keep it spinning.

The present invention is susceptible of some degree of moditication without departing from its essential features as set forth in the subjoined claim.

I claim as my invention In an automobile torpedo, a gyroscopic steering mechanism comprising a gyroscope enclosed in a trame having means for rotating it to permit ot angle-fire adjustment, a head which is stationary with relation to the torpedo, al spinning-up turbine, a high-pressure air duct leading to the spinning-up turbine,

a. swivel connection in said duct, the portion of said duct leading to such swivel connection having immovable relation to said head, and the portion ott said duct leading from said swivel co-nnection to the spinning-up turbine adapted for angular displacement with said trarne, said swivel connection having a removable closure permittingaccess to its interior and a removable swivel member which may be taken out through said closure.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM DIETER. 

